Ex-spy Litvinenko death inquiry to open in Britain
Britain will formally open an inquiry into the radioactive poisoning of Russian former spy Alexander Litvinenko in a case that threatens to increase tensions with Moscow amid the crisis in Ukraine.
Argentina faces default as 'vulture fund' talks fail
Last-ditch talks between Argentina and the US hedge funds it has branded "vultures" failed to reach agreement Wednesday, effectively pushing the country into default.
Kerry heads to India to end relationship rut
US Secretary of State John Kerry forecast a transformation Wednesday in Washington's troubled relations with India as he headed to New Delhi for ice-breaking talks with new Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
US and Europe hit Russia with toughest sanctions yet
The United States and Europe targeted Russia's key financial, arms and energy sectors Tuesday with tough new sanctions in response to Moscow's intervention in the Ukraine crisis.
Twitter flies on surprisingly strong numbers
Twitter shares shot higher by some 30 percent after its quarterly report showed surprisingly strong revenue and user growth, despite a widening loss.
With new default looming, Argentina urges calm
Argentina admitted it may default on some of its debts but downplayed the consequences, just two days before time expires in negotiations with hedge funds demanding full payment on their bonds.
Linda Ronstadt awarded White House arts honor
Linda Ronstadt, who was the most successful female rocker of the 1970s and pioneered the role of women in that genre, was honored with the highest US arts prize.
NASA rover breaks out-of-this-world distance record
The US space agency's Opportunity rover has now clocked more miles on Mars than any man-made vehicle to reach another celestial body, NASA said.
Japan rolls out more sanctions over Ukraine
Japan announced it would impose additional sanctions against those responsible for the "annexation of Crimea and destabilisation of eastern Ukraine", without offering further details.
North American box office loves 'Lucy'
Director Luc Besson's action sci-fi thriller "Lucy," about a woman turned superhuman by using 100 percent of her brain, debuted at the top of the North American box office, estimates showed.
Plane crash-lands on US beach, killing father
A small plane crash-landed on a beach in the US state of Florida Sunday, killing a father and critically injuring his young daughter, authorities said.
Two Americans, Freetown resident latest Ebola victims
Alarm soared in west Africa Monday over the deadliest Ebola virus outbreak yet, with an American doctor and a missionary contracting the disease in Liberia and the death of the first victim from Sierra Leone's capital Freetown.
Eight hospitalized after US lightning strike
Eight people, including a teenager, were taken to hospital Sunday following a freak lightning strike at bustling Venice Beach, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
Aruba releases Venezuelan wanted in US on drug charges
A Venezuelan ex-military intelligence chief arrested by Aruba at the United States' request on drug trafficking charges was freed Sunday and quickly returned home to Caracas, authorities said.
Halle Berry lends star power to fight hunger in Nicaragua
Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry lent her star power to combat rural hunger during a trip to Nicaragua for the UN World Food Program, officials here said.
Bose sues Beats over headphone patents
Audio technology veteran Bose Corporation sued Beats Electronics over patented technology for canceling noise in earphones.
One of five 9/11 accused to be tried separately: judge
A US military judge at Guantanamo Bay has ruled that one of the five alleged September 11 plotters, Yemeni Ramzi Binalshibh, should be tried separately.
Obama, Central American leaders meet on child migrants
President Barack Obama met Friday with three Central American leaders to try to get control of an humanitarian crisis triggered by a tide of child migrants crossing the southern US border.
US congratulates Iraq on electing new president
The United States on Thursday threw its weight behind the newly elected president of Iraq, Fuad Masum, and urged him to form a "cohesive government" to help fight Islamic militants.
Iran confirms arrest of Washington Post correspondent
Tehran's chief justice Gholamhossein Esmaili on Friday confirmed the arrest of Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian and his wife, also a journalist, the official IRNA news agency reported.